Continents International University in St. Louis, Missouri is now a candidate for accreditation by the International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE). The IACBE Board of Commissioners granted candidacy in July 2024, with the candidacy period running through July 31, 2029.
It helps to be clear about what candidacy means. A candidate is not yet accredited. Candidacy is the IACBE’s formal recognition that a school is ready to begin the full accreditation review of its business programs. Students should understand the difference before choosing a program.
The IACBE was founded in 1997 and is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). It accredits business, accounting, and business-related programs from the associate level through the doctoral level. Its review is outcomes-based, which means programs are judged on what students learn rather than on inputs alone.
For students, programmatic accreditation is a quality signal. It means an outside body has reviewed the program against published standards and that the school commits to measuring and improving student learning. Employers generally treat accredited programs as more credible, though no accreditation guarantees a job.
Continents International University offers online master’s programs and MiniMaster courses in business, leadership, and healthcare. Prospective students should read the current program pages and the university’s published learning goals before applying.
For background, read what IACBE accreditation is and why it matters and the value of IACBE accreditation for business schools. The trade-offs between accreditors are discussed in the accreditation debate, and how IACBE accreditation affects programs explains what the standards change in practice.

